July 9, 2021
Dear Washingtonians,
I hope, like me, you are enjoying seeing our young people out in the community at parks and pools, at summer camps, and my favorite – at jobs through the Summer Youth Employment Program. Next up: in August, we will welcome our students and educators back for full time, in-person learning. With an assist from the American Rescue Plan, we will have programs and resources in place to support the academic, social, and emotional needs of our young people.
As the start of the school year gets closer, I want to join our public health officials in urging all of our families to make sure your children get caught up on missed well-child visits and recommended vaccines. We know that one unfortunate result of the pandemic was that many children missed check-ups and recommended childhood vaccinations. Now is the time to call your child's doctor and make an appointment.
We are also strongly urging all families to get young people 12 and older vaccinated against COVID-19. As our young people engage in more activities, the vaccine will protect them and it will protect the people they interact with.
And please note, at this time, the Pfizer vaccine is the only approved vaccine for 12- to 17-year-olds. The Pfizer vaccine is a two-dose vaccine that requires five weeks to become fully vaccinated (you get your second dose three weeks after your first dose, and you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second dose). To ensure your child is fully vaccinated by the time school starts in August, you will need to get their first dose in the next two weeks.
Please take a few minutes over the next week to call your child's doctor and get a well-child visit on the calendar.
Sincerely,
 This week, Mayor Bowser released Homeward DC 2.0, the District’s updated plan for making homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Administration officials highlighted the updated plan at an event celebrating the “Goodfellas Team” – a team of seven residents from the 801 East Men’s Shelter who received workforce training and have now been hired to work on the construction of the replacement shelter.
In 2015, Mayor Bowser released Homeward DC, a bold vision and strategic plan to end long-term homelessness in Washington, DC. Since its initial release, the District has made significant progress and investments in sustainable solutions to reduce homelessness, especially with regard to family homelessness. Using a comprehensive approach, the District scaled homelessness prevention services for families; reformed the family shelter system – closing DC General and launching small, service-enriched Short-Term Family Housing programs throughout the city; and expanded rental subsidies for families. This work has led to a reduction in family homelessness in the District, from a peak of nearly 1,500 families experiencing homelessness on any given night as the District began Homeward DC implementation, to just over 400 families as of January 2021 – a 73% decrease.
Homeward DC 2.0 builds on this progress, with a strong focus on realizing similar progress with unaccompanied adult homelessness. Learn more HERE.
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 The policy for wearing face masks within DC Government buildings has been updated. Please note: all members of the public will continue to be required to wear face coverings while in DC Government buildings.
However, under the new policy, which becomes effective Monday, July 12, DC Government employees and contractors who are fully vaccinated will only be required to wear a face covering when:
- Interacting in person with a member of the public, including customers, constituents, clients, and patients;
- In a space in a District government building where members of the public are routinely present, such as a customer service area or a public-serving area in a library or recreation center, when such space is open to the public;
- In a shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness, a correctional facility, or another congregate facility;
- In a school or other educational facility or setting;
- In a childcare or healthcare facility or setting;
- Required to wear a mask by a specific entity or establishment; or
- On public transportation where the wearing of a mask is required.
Employees who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a face covering while in DC Government buildings, inside any other building, and outside and likely to be within six feet of other people. All DC Government employees are required to provide their vaccination status and attest to being “Fully Vaccinated” before following the guidance for fully vaccinated employees.
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 Join Mayor Bowser on Thursday, July 15, when we will break ground on two major development projects that will expand economic opportunity in Ward 8: Whitman-Walker at St. Elizabeths East and Reunion Square. Whitman-Walker will bring a new 118,000 square foot health care center and research hub to the St. Elizabeths East campus, expanding access to care and services for DC residents. And Reunion Square will be the future home of DC Health, create affordable housing for seniors, and support small business growth.
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